Great RV Destinations: Summer 2018

You own (or are considering owning) an RV. That tells us something about you; you have a passion for travel and fun. You’re willing to get out on the road and seek out what life has to offer. To help, we’ve gathered a list of various summer events and festivals to check out for this year. They all sound fun to us. See if any appeal to you!

The Oregon Trail Turns 175

The Oregon Trail Turns 175From June to November of this year, Oregon is celebrating the 175th Anniversary. Imagine, 175 years since people began flocking west through this passage. You can follow the Oregon National Historic Trail through six states in the comfort of your RV. For more information you can go to www.nps.gov/oreg/planyourvisit/follow-the-trail.htm.Or, for a more local taste, you can visit the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, just outside of Baker City, Oregon. There you’ll find programs and special events all summer. To find out more, go to www.trailtenders.org.

Tillamook Visitor's Center

The Tillamook Cheese Factory Visitor’s Center Re-OpensLast summer, the Tillamook Cheese Factory tore down its renowned Visitor’s Center, with plans to open a new one this summer. “A factory?” you say, “A cheese factory?” Oh yes! Cheese, ice cream and fun are what the Tillamook visitor’s center is known for. We hear so much about this place the reopening had to be on this list.The new 38,500-square-foot facility will be almost 50% bigger than the old one, designed to accommodate 1.3 million annual visitors with a larger cafe, additional indoor and outdoor seating, a new gift shop, improved parking lot and an "enhanced" ice cream counter. For more updates and planning, go to www.tillamook.com/cheese-factory/new-visitors-center-updates.html.Get ready to live! No. Really!

The Waterfront Blues Festival: Portland, Oregon, July 4-7The Waterfront Blues Festival is the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi. This year’s headliners include Buddy Guy, Gregg Allman, Galactic, Macy Gray, and Allen Toussaint. If jazz is what keeps you cool on summer nights, definitely come check it out. This annual event benefits the Oregon Food Bank. For more information go to waterfrontbluesfest.com.

Julyamsh Powwow

Julyamsh Powwow: Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, July 21-22This is the largest outdoor powwow in the Pacific Northwest, Julyamsh is hosted by the Coeur D’Alene Tribe at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. The cultural celebration is open to all, but it is important to remember that this isn’t organized like events aimed directly at tourists – the dancing will begin when the time is right, and the dancing will end when the time is right. For more information go to julyamsh.com.72nd Annual Scottish Highland Games: Enumclaw, Washington, July 28-29Get your annual dose of Scottish pasties and scones slathered in berries and cream. Wear your clan tartan or just your jeans. You’ll see competitions in dancing, piping, drumming, plus all the caber tossing you could want! There will be kennel and arts exhibitions too. Plan on a rousing good time! For more information go to www.sshga.org/category/highland-games.

Celebration of Light

Celebration of Light: Vancouver, B.C., July 28, Aug. 1 and 4One of the biggest events on the calendar for Vancouver, B.C. is the Celebration of Light (née Symphony of Fire). This is a massive, international fireworks competition that hosts more than 1.3 million visitors over three days every summer. If you love fireworks, music and food, go to hondacelebrationoflight.com for more information.

Pendleton Round-Up: Pendleton, Oregon, September 8-15Aside from four days of rodeo action, offering all the bull riding, barrel racing, roping, relays and mutton busting, the Pendleton Round-up includes concerts, golf, historical re-enactments, cowboy breakfasts, and (of course) barbecue. If you love rodeo, then this is a must-see. For more information go to www.pendletonroundup.com.

This is just a taste, of course. The Pacific Northwest is wide and vibrant and full of excitement. If there’s an event that you think should be on this list, then please let us know at www.poulsborv.com/contact-us. We’re always delighted to hear from you.As always, thanks. And travel safely!